Burial casket



July 3, 1962 G. GRUBER 3,041,704

BURIAL CASKET Filed June 20. 1960 FIG.!

FIG.7 79 FIG.8

INVENTOR.

LESLIE G. GRUBER III j 87 v 89 89 Z2] 8! 85 73 This invention relates to a burial casket and more particularly to a burial casket having a bed therein.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a burial casket provided with a substantially complete bed of the same type that the deceased had been accustomed to sleeping on before his death, thus giving comfort and consolation to the family and friends of the deceased.

A further object is to provide a casket in which the corpse is adapted to be supported in a natural sleeping position, just as if in his own bed.

A further object is to provide in such a casket, a substantially complete bed movably mounted for the raising and lowering thereof.

A further object is to provide such a casket in which the bed therein includes a frame and a spring mattress mounted thereon.

A further object is to provide a casket that is simple in construction and yet very attractive.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction of burial caskets.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the casket of the present invention showing the bed and supporting means therefor in elevation and with a part of the bed being broken away for purposes of llustration.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a corner of the bed with portions broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as on the line IIIIII of FIG. 1 and with a portion of the bottom cover of the bed being broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the supporting hanger assemblies.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the device of FIG. 5. v I

FIG. 7 is a top view of a portion of the device of FIG. 5 showing the holding finger in an open position.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the C-shaped portion of the device of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the casket 11 of the present invention includes a bottom '13, a pair of upstanding spaced ends 15 and a pair of upstanding spaced sides 19 respectively connected adjacent opposite ends thereof to ends 15 to establish the substantially box-like casket body 23. The top 25 of the casket 11 is preferably formed in two sections in the usual manner, i.e., a head section 27 hingedly attached to casket body 23 and a foot section 29 also hingedly attached to the casket body. It will be understood that in FIG. 1 the head section 27 is shown in an open position and the foot section 29in a closed position.

A bed 31 is movably supported in casket 11, by means to be described later, in spaced relationship to ends15 and sides 19. Bed 31 comprises an open frame 33 including a pair of spaced parallel side members 35, spaced parallel Patented July 3, 1962 end members 39 interconnecting the side members adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and an intermediate member 43 in parallel spaced relationship between side members 35. Members 35, 39 and 43 are preferably formed of wood and are joined by suitable means, as for example nails, glue or the like to establish the rigid frame 33.

For additional strength each of side members 35 is preferably of composite construction comprising an upper piece 45 and a lower piece 47 held together by suitable means. In the same manner, each'of end members 39 is preferably of composite construction comprising an upper piece 49 and a lower piece 51.

A plurality of springs 53 are supported by frame 33 and springs 53 are preferably, though not necessarily, of the coiled type as best shown in FIG. 4 with the diameter of each of the coils being smaller in the middle thereof than at the opposite ends. Springs 53 are preferably arranged in three transversely spaced rows along the length of the bed 31 with the outside rows respectively being supported by the pair of side members 35 and the middle row being supported by the intermediate member 43. A plurality of smaller coiled springs 55 extend transversely of frame 33 and are attached adjacent the opposite ends thereof to side members 35 by suitable means. These transverse springs 55 are spiraled around the lower ends of adjacent springs 53 to join the adjacent springs 53 in a well known manner.

A cushion 57 is supported by springs 53 and forms the top 58 of bed 31. Cushion 57 includes padding 59, as cotton or the like, contained between an inside piece of fabric 61 and an outside piece of fabric or covering 63. Covering 63 extends over the entire bed 31 and covers not only the top 53 thereof but also the'opposite ends 65 of the bed and the opposite sides 67. Covering 63 is secured to frame 33 by suitable means, as brads .or the like. The bottom of bed 31 is also preferably covered as by means of a substantially rectangular piece of fabric 68 extending across frame 33 and attached thereto by suitable means, as for example brads or the like.

-An upper edge support is preferably provided in'the usual manner around the peripheral upper edge of bed 31 and comprises a wire 69 extending around the upper peripheral edge of bed 31 under covering 63. Wire 69 is joined to the springs 53, which are adjacent thereto, by means of a coil spring 70 which is Wound around wire 69 and portions of springs 53 in the usual manner. In addition, a plurality of transverse springs 71 join the upper ends of adjacent springs 5-3 in a manner similar to the joining of the lower ends of the springs 53 by transverse springs 55. The opposite ends of transverse springs 71 are preferably anchored to wire 69. Also, the piece of fabric 61 is preferably attached adjacent the edges of the fabric to wire 69 in a suitable well known manner.

Bed 31 is preferably movably supported adjacent the opposite ends thereof respectively by a pair of hangers '72.

, Each of hangers '72 comprises a plate 73 having an upwardly ofiset portion 75 fitted in a recess 77 in its related end 15 so that plate 73 is supported by the end. A notch 79 is provided in plate 73 and adapted to rcmovably receive the substantially cylindrical head 81 of a screw 83. Head 31 is provided With an annular groove 85 adapted 1 to slidably receive the edges of plate 73 adjacent notch 79 so that the screw 83 is rotatably supported by the shoulder 87 which defines the upper portion of groove 85. A locking finger 89 is pivotally mounted from plate 73 as by a pin 91 so that thefinger is adapted to swing between open and closed positions. When in the open position shown in FIG. 7, the finger permits head 81 to enter or be removed from notch 79, and when the finger is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 6, the finger holds head 81 in notch 79. Finger 89 is adapted to be locked in 73. A bracket 93 is movably supported by screw 83 and includes a C-shaped portion 95 havingaligned upper and lower apertures 97, 99 through which screw '83 threadedly extends. Bracket 93 additionally includes an L-shaped' foot member ll fixedly attached to C-shaped portion 95 by suitable means, as for example bolts 103. Foot member 101 includes a horizontally extending portion 105 which extends beneath the frame 33, preferably adjacent the mid-portion thereof under intermediate member 43, a

as best seen in FIGQ3. Anelongated slot 107' is provided in horizontal portion 105. Attaching means, as for example screw 109, extends through slot 107 and into frame 33 to attach the foot member to the frame. -A suitable upwardly opening socket 111 is preferably provided in .head81 and adapted to receive a suitable wrench for turning the screw 83. It will be understood that by turningscrew 83 in one direction bracket 93 will move upwardly to carry bed 31 upwardly and by turning the screw in the opposite direction the bracket will move downwardly to lower the bed. A collar 113 is fitted on screw 83. adjacent the lower end thereof and held in place by a set screw 115. A bracket 117 is fixedly attached to casket body 23 below hanger 72 and the bracket is provided with a vertical aperture through which the lower end of screw thrust means is provided to rotatably support thelower endof the hanger.

'- the full intented scope of this inventionas hereinafter claimed.

I claim: a

1. In a casket, an adjustable unitary bed construction comprising a frame and mattress; said frame includingspaced side members, spaced endmemhers interconnecb' ing said side members adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and an intermediate member parallel with said side mem bers, said intermediate member being connected adjacent opposite ends thereof respectively'to said endv members; said mattress including a cushion adjacent the upper part' thereof, a plurality of springs interposed between said cushion and said frame, a plurality of transverse springs interconnecting adjacent tones 'of said first mentioned springs, and a fabric cover enclosing said cushion and attached to said frame, a wire extending around the upper peripheral edge of said mattress under said cover, and means for attaching said wire to adjacent ones of said first mentioned springs; and a pair of adjustable hanger means attached directly to said intermediate member for supporting said bed in said casket without the need of a separate supporting bed.

2. In a burial casket, a unitary bed comprising a frame and mattress, said frame including spaced side members, spaced endmembers interconnecting said side members adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and an intermediate member parallel with said side members, said intermediate member being connected adjacent opposite ends thereof respectively to said end members; said mattress including a cushion adjacent the upper part thereof, aplurality' of springs interposed between said cushion and said frame, a plurality of transverse springs interconnecting adjacent ones of said first mentioned springs, a fabric cover enclosing said cushionand attached to said frame, a wire 1 extending around the upper peripheral edge of said mat- Y 83 extends with collar 1 13 resting on the bracket so that a tress under said cover, and means for attaching said wire to adjacent ones of said first mentioned springs; and means attached directly to said intermediate member for mov ably supporting said bed in saidcasket for the raising and l lowering of said bed without the need of a separate supporting bed.

3. In a burial casket, an adjustable unitary bed construction comprising a frame and inner-spring mattress combination; said frame including spaced side members, spaced end members interconnecting said side members adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and an intermediate member parallel with said side members, said intermediate member being connected adjacent opposite ends thereof respectively to said end members; said mattress including'a cushion adjacent the upper part thereof, a plurality of springstinterposed between said cushion and said frame, and a fabric cover enclosing said cushion and attached to said frame; and means attached directly to said intermediate member for supporting said bed in said cash i ket without the need of -a separate supporting bed.

Slaughter et a1. Aug. 26, 1958 

